Ornamental christmas tree



w. R. KAF'KA ETAL Oct. 23, 1962 1962 w. R. KAFKA' ETAL- 3, I

ORNAMENTAL CHRISTMAS TREE Filed Feb. 11. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 uvmvrozes: WALTER R. KAFKA GEORGE KAFKA ATI'YS United States Patent ship Filed Feb. 11, 1960, Ser. No. 8,146 2 Claims. (Cl. 41-15) This invention relates to improvements in specialty type ornaments and the means and method for making the same.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved form of ornament wherein a plurality of pieces of flexible material, each medially compressed, are secured to a supporting wire in radially-disposed, spirally compact relationship with the perimetrical portions of the pieces of material flared outwardly to form a fluffy cylindrical unit; to provide an improved ornament of this kind wherein a plurality of varying lengths of wires, supporting flexible-material of this kind, when stacked on a post in axialabutting, circumferentially-staggered, radial disposition, simulate a Christmas tree; and to provide an improved means and method for making ornaments of this kind which is simple in structure and facile to use in the production of ornaments which are very inexpensive and highly attractive.

In the adaptation shown in the accompanying drawings;

FIGURE 1 is a miniature perspective of a simulated Christmas tree made in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, perspective view of a single ornamental unit one end of the supporting wire of which is radially positioned on a support;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of one of a plurality of the squares of material used in the making of these ornaments;

FIG. 4 is a perspective View of a jig for forming ornamental units of the type shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a much-enlarged, partial, side view of the end of a slightly modified forming of the wire for a single ornamental unit similar to that shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a slightly enlarged, sectional view of the jig in use as taken on the plane of the line 6--6 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of jig such as might be used for forming the ornamental unit of FIG. 5.

The essential concept of this invention invloves a plurality of uniform pieces of thin, flexible material each medially compressed and all pieces secured to a twisted supporting wire in radially-disposed, spirally-compact relationship with the perimetrical portions of the pieces flared outwardly from the supporting wire to form a fluffy cylindrical unit, a plurality of which units of varying lengths, when stacked on a post in radially-circumferential-spaced relationship, simulate a Christmas tree.

A simulated Christmas tree, embodying the foregoing concept, is made up of a plurality of units each formed of a plurality of pieces of thin, flexible material 8 clamped between pairs of various-length, twisted wires 9, assembled in a jig :10, and subsequently pyramidally stacked on a supporting post :11 in axially-disposed, circumferentiallyspaced relationship.

The pieces of material 8 preferably are squares of a thin, transparent, polyethylene plastic material. Such material is preferred because of its light-reflective characteristics and its tendency to resume its normal condition after being compressed. Although squares of this material have been found most advantageous to work with, other geometric forms, obviously, could be used. The dimensions of the squares 8 would be determined, generally, by the size desired for the cylindrical unit, hereinafter described.

3,959,356 Patented Oct. 23, 1962 The wires 9 may be any suitable, fairly-rigid material but with such pliability as will permit easy twisting with assured retention in the twisted form. The pair of wires will vary in length to permit a plurality of the units to be stacked in pyramidal form to simulate a Christmas tree, as shown in FIG. l.

Various types of units are possible of formation with the herein shown jigs 10. One such unit has an exposed stem 23 (FIG. 2). Another such unit has both wire terminals formed as shown at 22 in FIG. 5 whereupon the finished unit is bent medially around a cylindrical fixture, such as a piece of pipe or rod, to form a loop large enough to seat over the support 24. A third such unit has both wire terminals formed as shown at =22 but the unit is set up on the jig 10, as illustrated in FIG. 7, which leaves the wire exposed at its medial portion to be spread as shown at .16 in FIG. 5.

The jig 1 0, wherein the separate units are formed, as here shown is a channel-shaped member wherein the lateral side rails 12 are each formed with a series of uniformly-spaced openings 13 extending throughout the length of each side rail 12. In the jig 10, for forming the unit shown in FIG. 2, the series of openings 13 are uni formly spaced along the entire length of the side rails. In the jig 10, for making the units as shown in FIG. 5, there are medial portions 14 of the side rails 12 which do not have the openings 13. (See FIG. 7.) The purpose of the omission of the openings 13 medially of the jig 10 is to provide for the later bending of the wires 9 into a loop 16 as shown in FIG. 5, the function of which will be made explicit presently.

Any of the above noted types of ornamental units are made in the following manner:

A desired number of the squares 8 are individually wadded or compressed along one dimension into elon gated shapes 17, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, to permit each such compressed shape 17 to be threaded through a pair of alined openings 13 in the jig side rails 12, as is shown in the aforesaid figures. After the desired number of such compressed shapes 17 have been threaded through the selected alined openings 13-, a pair of wires 9 are positioned as shown in FIG. 4, on opposite sides of the row of compressed shapes 17 medially of the side rails 12. Such wires 9 may be two separate pieces or it may be a single piece of wire bent to form the two sections as shown in FIG. 4.

One end of the wires 9the bent end 18 where the wires are so f0rmed-is set in a stationary chuck 19 to hold the wires against axial turning. The free ends of the wire-s 9 are set in a revolving chuck, preferably of a conventional, hand-power tool (not shown). The tool is activated to turn the wires 9 so as to form a spiral twist as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. The amount of twist given should be such as to effect .a tight gripping of each compressed shape 17, between each twist of the wires. As is quite apparent, this results in the compressed shapes being radially-disposed to the wires 9 in a spirally-oompaot relationship.

The twisting of the wires being completed, the unit is removed from the chuck and from the jig 10. Thereupon the ends of the wires are looped back around the end-compressed shapes 17, as shown at 22 in FIG. 5. Such a terminal formation would be made at both ends where the unit has the wire medially looped as above noted or medially spread as shown in FIG. 5; only one such terminal formation would be required for the type of unit shown in FIG. 2. The perimetrical portions of the several compressed shapes 17 are flared outwardly so as to form a fiufiy cylindrical unit as most clearly shown in FIG 2.

When the unit is formed in the jig 10, as shown in FIG. 4, the end 18 of the wires 9 extend beyond the most adjacent compressed shape 17. This provides a stem 23, as shown in FIG. 2, which will permit a plurality of such units to be set up on an apertured support 24 in various Ways, one such of which would be a simulated Christmas tree as shown in FIG. 1. Where the unit is formed on the jig as shown in FIG. 7, after removal of the jig the medial portionwhich has no compressed shapes 17is spread to form a loop 16, the merit of which will appear presently.

The length of each such unit-as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5is determined by the number of compressed shapes 17 that are inserted through a consecutive series of the al-ined openings 13 in the respective jigs it). When the unit is to be formed with a medial opening 16 an equal number of compressed shapes 17 would be threaded through a predetermined number of alined openings 13 on each side of the medial parts 14 having no openings 13. The pair of wires 9 of a length duly proportioned to the number of compressed shapes '17 would be used to secure such shapes thereto in the manner hereinbefore explained. When the unit is formed, as shown in FIG. 2, and the length of wires 9 is less than the full dimension of the jig 10, the desired number of compressed shapes 17 would be inserted through a predetermined number of openings 13 adjacent one end of the jig. The Wires 9 of the required length, would be positioned at that end of the jig, with the end 18 of the wires extending enough beyond the end of the jig to provide a stem 23 of the desired length.

Perhaps the most obvious and preferred use of these units is in the formation simulating a Christmas tree, as indicated in FIG. 1. This may be done with any of the types of unit as shown and described herein. In any case the units would be stacked on a post 24, mounted on a base 25, in radially-disposed circumfere-ntiallyspaced relationship. 7

IE units, as shown in FIG. 2, are used the post 24 would have a series of holes drilled therein at a slight transverse angle in circumferentiallyspaced positions around the post throughout the length thereof. The units of the form shown in FIG. 2, would be positioned on the post 24 by having the stems 23 stuck in these holes.

If units with medial loops or medially spread wires, as shown in FIG. 5, are used the units would be stacked one on top of the other by setting the medial openings over the post 24.

In any case the plurality of units would be of varying lengths. The longest units would be placed at the bottom of the post 24 and graduated upwardly with the shortest units at the top, hence the pyramidal for-m characteristic of the conventional evergreen Christmas tree.

It Will be understood that details of the construction shown and described may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the followin g claims.

We claim:

1. A Christmas tree comprising, a supporting post, a plurality of pairs of spirally-twisted wires each pair of a different length and formed with a medial loop, a plurality of pieces of thin flexible material secured at their medially-compressed portions between each of the pairs of twisted wires of self-sustaining rigidity in radially-disposed spirally-compact relationship extending oppositely outward from the respective loop to the ends of the pair of wires, the perimetrical portions of the pieces of material being flared outwardly to form a fluify cylindrical unit, the plurality of units being graduately-staclted with their loops embracing the post to dispose the units in radially-disposed, circumferentially-spaced relationship on the post, the unit with the longest wires being at the bottom of the stack and the unit with the shortest wires being at the top of the stack.

2. A Christmas tree comprising, a supporting plurality of pairs of spirall -twisted wires each pair of a different length and formed with a medial loop, a plurality of squares of transparent, light-reflecting, plastic material secured at their medially-compressed portions between each of the pairs of twisted wires of self-sustaining rigidity in radially-disposed, spirally-compact relationship extending oppositely outward from the respective loop to the ends of the pair of Wires, the perimetrical portions of the pieces of material being flared outwardly to form a fiuffy cylindrical unit, the plurality of units being graduately-stacked their loops embracing the post to dispose the units in radially-disposed, circumferentially-spaced relationship on the post, the unit with the longest wires being at the bottom of the stack and the unit with the shortest wires being at the top of the stack.

post, a

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 216,278 Kingsley June 10, 1879 255,902 Wengenroth Apr. 4, 1882 364,085 Bohm May 31, 1887 1,240,392 Vierlinger Sept. 18, 1917 1,656,3 10 Anderson Jan. 17, 1928 1,683,637 Trimpe Sept. 1-1, 1928 2,245,903 Cone June 17, 1941 2,639,532 Seewald May 26, 1953 2,727,326 MacGregor Dec. 20, 1955 2,893,149 Reece et al. July 7, 1959 2,995,962 Dietz Aug. 15, 196 1 

